The Virginia Cooperative Extension publication listed below provides guidelines for growing marketable Christmas treeson reclaimed surface mine sites. It is based on the authors' experiences, observations, and research data collected from several Christmas tree plantations established and maintained at the Powell River Project Education Center. As long as soil properties are favorable, reclaimed mines are quite capable of producing marketable Christmas trees. As on natural soils, good management is a key to producing Christmas trees profitably.
Currently, students from Mountain Empire Community College and Southwest Virginia Community College monitor and maintain Christmas trees at Powell River Project Education Center.
Torbert, J.L., J.A. Burger, T.J. Nichols, and J.E. Johnson. 1989. Growing Christmas trees on surface mined lands. Virginia Cooperative Extension Publication 460-116.